Thirteen American Cities Going Broke

Earlier this year, the city of Stockton, California, defaulted on its debt and filed for bankruptcy. For analysts at ratings agency Moody’s, it marked a growing trend in local governments. Cities, which have historically been nearly flawless on their obligations, are opting to default on their debt because of financial troubles.

In a report issued Wednesday, Moody’s rated the debt of 30 cities, towns, villages, counties, and school districts as “speculative grade,” up from 25 last year. A speculative-grade rating for a local government means, at best, its debt is risky and, at worst, it could end in default. 24/7 Wall St. looked at 13 of the riskiest local governments that may be on the verge of bankruptcy.

In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Moody’s Managing Director and Chief Credit Officer of U.S. Public Finances, Anne Van Praagh, explained that the number of cities, counties and towns that default on some or all of their debt is growing. She attributes this to “a significant amount of credit pressure, sluggish economic recovery, and cities not being able to grow out of their problems this time around.” She added that many cities see defaulting as the only way to avoid total economic disaster.

Perhaps the best example of this is Stockton. Even in bankruptcy, the city opted not to pay off its debt. The city was one of the most seriously affected by the housing crash. Stockton bonds are currently rated Caa3 by Moody’s, tied with Jefferson County, Alabama for the worst rating issued to a local government.

Different circumstances brought each government to this point. However, a few underlying causes are shared. In some cases, governments severely mismanaged their debt: they borrowed based on unrealistic projections of expenses. In other cases, the economic downturn hit particularly hard, weakening revenue. For some local governments, it was a combination of factors.

A weak economy with a fragile or shrinking tax base is one of the worst problems a local government trying to balance its budget can face. In Detroit, the population has fallen by roughly half in the past 50 years, including a 25% drop in the past decade alone. Unemployment is well into the double digits, and per capita income has been steadily declining. All these factors make it extremely difficult to continue raising revenue to service its debt.

Detroit’s 2011 general fund revenue was $1.23 billion while its outstanding debt was more than $2.5 billion. For some speculative-grade-rated governments, debt exceeds annual revenue by three, four, or even five times.

Poor management and the failure to accurately project revenues plague many of these governments. Le Center, Minnesota, has chronically overestimated revenues from real estate developments. Menasha, Wisconsin issued government issued bonds for a new steam power plant it had been building to attract manufacturers to the region. The project was cancelled, and the city’s general obligation debt was more than seven times its 2011 revenue.

Readers Comments (1)

200 million people hooked on prescription drugs
Everyone from Kindergarten to Great Grand Mom,
with 1.3% of their population incarcerated,
with another 1% watching them.
A welfare nation with no work ethic,
self centered lazy
uneducable & now unemployable.
I believe that when the dollar collapses & is replaced as the standard of buying & selling in the world, there will be
blood shed on the streets of America.
Americans against Americans,
Crips against Bloods
Blacks against Whites
& An Army that’s Unarmed & out of country, A National guard that will turn tail & run, An unprepared unarmed people except for the outlaws.
Why bother bombing America?
Give them what they want,
GIVE THEM MORE PILLS!!!
Lunesta? Ambien? Weary Leg Syndrome, Extends, Viagra or Postivac? Late Night TV? Oh & waiting for your huvverround or you skooter from the skooter store. Give them what they want give them Bigger Shopping Malls, Big Screen TV’s in their gov subsidized dwellings & Fancy cars Give them a credit line.
The United States should put a white flag on the pentagon lawn. Salute your new flag America
RITE AID
WHEN THE RIOTS START HERE THERE IS NO ARMY HERE TO STOP THE RIOTS!!